Automatic, nonclogging watering cup for poultry and livestock watering apparatus



Dec. 2, 1952 F. H. PFHTZNER 2,519,981

AUTOMATIC, NONCLOGGING WATERING CUP FOR POULTRY AND LIVESTOCK WATERING APPARATUS A Filed Nov. 15, 1947 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 [Amway I11 zv'entor Fred -H. Pf/irzner EMMA wi away 3m Dec. 2, 1952 F. PFIITZNER 2,619,931

AUTOMATIC. NONCLO NG/WATERING CUP FOR POULTRY EST AND LIV OCK WATERING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 15, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 k i 27 F,- 2. g /a' 2/ I7 ZINE-5Z4 r I J/l l4 Inventor F red H. Pfi/fzner l away. 19m

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 AUTOMATIC, NONCLOGGING WATERING CUP FOR POULTRY AND LIVESTOCK WATERDIG APPARATUS Fred H. Pfiitzner, Cuyama, Calif.

Application November 13, 1947, Serial No. 785,764

Claims. (Cl. 137-408) The present invention relates to new and useful, improvements in poultry and live stock watering apparatus and more particularly to a novel automatically controlled valve for regulating the flow of water.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a non-clogging valve of this character.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pressure responsive valve for movement into an open position by pressure of water sub- Jected thereto and a gravity operated watering cup to close the valve by the weight of the water therein when reaching a predetermined levelin the cup.

Another object of the invention is to provide spring suspension means for the watering cup operating to hold the valve in an open position.

A further object of the invention is to provide adjustable means carried by the watering cup for the valve to regulate the opening and closing movement thereof and including a pressure operated independent movable valve and constructed for convenient removal without necessitating removal of the cup.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is emcient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended. Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the valve in open posiiton;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the valve closed;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the clamping lugs for securing the cap to the cup; x

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the valve; 7

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the valve and illustrating a modified deflector construction carried at the upper end of the supply pipe, and

Referring now to the drawings in detail the numeral 5 designates an upstanding supply pipe having a polygonal wrench engaging portion 6 adjacent the lower end of the pipe for attaching the supply pipe in an upstanding position in a supply line. The upper end of the pipe is formed with an annular shoulder l to provide a reduced neck 8 at its upper end.

A watering cup 9 is formed at its central por-- tion with a vertically extending tube I0 slidably mounted on the pipe 5', the upper end of the tube having an internal shoulder engaging the shoulder of the pipe to limit downward movement of the cup thereon.

A deflector designated generally at |2 includes a cap portion I3 fitted over the upper end of the neck 8 and is formed with a frusto-conical flange M at its lower edge. The top of the cap portion I3 is provided with a central opening I5 and in which a valve stem I8 is loosely positioned for vertical sliding movement in the opening. A conical valve H is formed on the upper portion of the stem l6 and above the valve is a guide stem l8 slidably positioned in a recess l9 at the lower end of an adjusting screw 2|].

The adjusting screw 20 is threaded through the upper end of a cap or cage 2| which encloses the upper end of the neck 8 and deflector l2, one side of the cap 2| at its lower end being formed with a vertically extending slot 22 provided at its edges with apertured ears 23 having a bolt and nut 24 extending therethrough for clamping the lower end of the cap on the upper end of the tube ID of the cup 9. Discharge openings 25 are formed in the lower portion of the cap 2| below the deflector |2.

A coil spring 26 is positioned with its lower end resting on the deflector I2 and its upper end bearing against the underside of the cap 2| to hold the cap and the cup 9 in a raised position and with the valve I! open, as shown in Figure l of the drawings.

The adjustment of the screw 2|! regulates the opening of valve I1 and the screw is secured in its adjusted position by a lock nut 21.

In the operation of the device when the Watering cup 9 is empty the spring 26 will hold the cup and the cap 2| in a raised position and the valve I! will gravitate into a closed position at the upper end of opening I5 when the supply of water rising in pipe 5 is cut off. Pressure of water entering pipe 5 will open the valve H to fill the cup 9 and weight of the water in the cup will move the cup downwardly to lower the Figure 8 is a similar view of a modified valve cap 2| and thus move the valve ll into a closed seat construction.

position to cut off the supply oi water.

The conical flange I l on the lower end of deflector l2 deflects water toward the walls of cap 2| and discharge openings 25 and away from supply pipe 8 to prevent water passing downwardly around the supply pipe. The beveled upper end of tube Hl also deflects water toward discharge openings 25 and preyents water accumulated in the cap 2l. from rising to a point to cause leakage around the neck of the supply pipe.

In Figure 7 of the drawings I have illustrated a modified deflector construction 23 which is open at its top and threaded on the upper endgof the neck 29 of the supply pipe. The .upper end of .the supply pipe is formed with a valve seat 1-59 for engagement by the valve 31. The {stem 32 ,projecting from the lower end of the valve works loosely through the opening in the top of the neck 29 to prevent clogging thereof.

In Figure 8 of the drawings the deflector 33 is also threaded on the upper end of neck 33 of the supply; pipe and a-washer 35 is positioned'between the upper end of the neck. and the top or the deflector to provide an'efiecti-ve seat fol-the valve 35,

In view theforegoing' description taken in conjunction with-the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of-the device willbe-quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A- more detailed-description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is tobe understood, however, that even though'there is hereinshown-and described a preferred embodiment of the invention-the same is susceptible to certain changes fully-comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having described-the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An automatic watering device comprising an upstanding supply pipe, a cup, a vertical tube fixed to and extending through the center of the cup and slidably carried by the,pipe, a capfor the upper end of the pipe carried by the tube, a valve in the cap, said valve beingpressureoperated for opening movement and gravity actuated for closing movement, said caphaving discharge openings therein, andmeans carried by the pipe and concealedentirely Withinthe cap for. defiectingwater passing from the upper end of thepipe toward the. discharge openings, and for. preventing water passing downwardly around the Supp p p 2. Anautomatic watering device comprising an upstandin Supplypipe, acap slidably carried by the pipe, a, valve carried bythe cap. for closing the upper end of the pipe, said valve being gravity actuated for closing movement, counterbalance ing meansopposing closingw movement of the valve, said cap including dischargeopenings, ,and a deflector carried bythenpper. endof said pipe and concealedentirely within the cap for. directing water passing from the upper, end of the; pipe.

. toward the discharge'openings: and for preventing water from-passing -downwardly around the supplypip 3. An automatic watering device comprising-an upstanding supply pipe, aspring suspended cup, slidably carried by the pipe, .a valve carried .by the ,cap for closing the-uppeixend of the pipeupon a predetermined.loweringmovement of the cap, said cap including discharge openinggand ajdefiector mounted on-theupperend ofsai-d pipe and concealed within the cap for directing water assing from theupper end ofsaidrpipeftoward the discharge openings and for preventing water from passing downwardly around the supply pipe.

4. An automatic watering device comprising an upstanding supply pipe, an elongated spring suspended cap slidably carried by the pipe, a vertically adjustable valve carried by the cap for closing the upper end of the pipe upon a predetermined loweringmovement of the cap, said cap having a plurality of circumferentially spaced delivery openings therein, and a deflector carried by the upper end of said pipe and concealed within the cap intermediate the ends of the cap for directing water, passing from the upper end of said: pipe. toward the discharge openings and for preventing water from passing downwardly around the supply pipe.

5. An automatic watering device comprising an upstanding supply pipe, a spring suspended cage slidably carried by the pipe, a pressure actuated valve for the upper end of the pipe, an adjusting screw carried by the cagefor regulating the valve. a cap member embracing the upper end of said pipe. and disposed entirely withinsaidicage, a frusto-conical deflector integrally formed with said cap member and also disposed entirely-withintlze cage, and saidcage having dischargeopenings for receiving waterdeiiected by saiddeflector, said deflector preventing water from passing downwardlyaround the supply pipe.

6. Anautornatic valvecomprising an upstanding supply pipe, a cup including a;vertical tubular central portionslidably carried by the'pipe, an elongated .apertured cap havinga lower open end carried by the upper end of thetubular central portion, said cap being positioned over theupper end of the pipe, avalveheld in position on" the upper end of thepi-pe by the cap, said valve--being gravity closed and pressure opened, said'cap having discharge openings therein, a further cap embracing the upper end of said pipe and disposed entirely within said first named cap, adeflector on said further cap and also disposed entirely within said first named cap for deflecting water passingfrom the upper end of the pipe to-* ward the discharge openings and foralsoprfieventing water from passing downwardly around the supply pipe, and a-coil spring surrounding the further cap, located Within the first named cap and biased between the-two caps to urge-"the valve to its open position until a predetermined amount of water has entered the cup,

'7. An automatic valve comprising an upstand ing supply pipe, a cup, a vertical tubefixed toand extending centrally through the cup, said-tube being slidably carried by the pipe, an apertured cap carried by the upper end of the tube andpositioned over the upper end of the pipe, a valve held in position on the upper 'end'ofgthe pipe by the'cap, saidvalve being-gravity closed, counter.-. balancing means between the pipe andlthe cap holding the valve open, said counterbalancing means being disposed entirely within.said..cap, said cap having delivery openings, therein,.-.and.a deflector carried by .thepipeand concealed within the capior deflectingwaterupassing fromithe upper end of, thepipe towardthe dischargeopenings and for preventing water from passing downs wardly aroundthe supply pipe.

3. An automatic valve comprising an upstandin v supply pipe, acup. slidablycarried by the pipe, an apertured. cap carried. by the cup; positioned over .the upper end of ,the pipe a valve ron: theupper end of the pipe, an adjusting screwzcarried by; the cap and engagingtthewvalventdcloseithe valve by gravity action of the cup;a:coiled;sprmg concealed within the cap and held between the pipe and the cap to open the valve, said cap having a plurality of delivery openings, and a deflector carried by said pipe and also concealed Within the cap for deflecting Water passing from the upper end of the pipe toward the discharge openings and for preventing water from passing downwardly around the supply pipe.

9. A watering cup comprising an upstanding supply pipe, an automatic valve for the upper end of the pipe, a gravity actuated cup for closing the valve and including a tube slidable on the pipe and a cap on the upper end of the tube, a conical deflector fitted over the upper end of the pipe and overlying the top of the tube to prevent leakage between the pipe and the tube, and said cap having delivery openings therein for receiving water passing from the upper end of the pipe and deflected by said conical deflector, said defiector being concealed within the cap,

10. A watering cup comprising an upstanding supply pipe, an automatic valve for the upper end of the pipe, a gravity actuated cup for closing the valve and including a tube slidable on the pipe and a cap secured to the upper end of the tube, said tube having a beveled upper end, and a conical deflector fitted on the upper end of the pipe and overlying the top of the tube to prevent leakage between the pipe and the tube, said cap having delivery openings, said deflector being concealed completely within said cap, and said conical deflector adapted to deflect Water passing from the upper end of the pipe toward the discharge openings.

FREED H. PFI ITZNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nuinber Name Date 1,131,046 Dyer Mar, I9, 1915 1,702,973 Lord Feb. 19, 1929 2,387,664 Kubista Oct. 23, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 365,599 Great Britain of 1932 

